The SNP will lose my city vote over Spaces for People – Helen Martin

ONE of the biggest “rebellions” in Edinburgh during recent times has been over the Spaces for People project. And it’s ironic that many like me, who vote for SNP in the Scottish election, won’t be voting for SNP when the council election takes place.

Edinburgh's controversial Spaces for People project is set to last another 18 months. PIC: Lloyd Smith.

Would I vote for Tory MSPs or MPs? Absolutely not. But I’ve admitted before, I will certainly be voting for Edinburgh’s Tory councillors.

Our city has been ruined. There has been a disastrous effect on some businesses and shops, confusion over routes around the city and chaos when it comes to the ridiculous set up of cycle paths, bollards, parking spaces and road blockages. Horrendous congestion has been left on the roads left open for cars, trade vans, deliveries and sometimes buses too.

Like the Tory councillors, I’m happy with cycle lanes, banning of cars around schools and broadening of pavements for pedestrians if the road is broad enough. I also understand we have to try and reduce petrol emissions so banning cars from the city centre might be tolerable.

But so many areas have ludicrous creations like cycle paths between buses and passengers, weird parking spaces or none which are essential. There are difficulties for locals to park their cars near their home and there is so much installed on roads which are usually quiet.

The Council believes it should all be permanent. I know SNP and Labour party voters won’t vote Tory for governments. But I hope many will do for the Council in May next year so they can improve this mess.

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